By Xinhua,
Kabul : The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a statement on Wednesday rejected the claims that ISAF killed 30 civilians in the joint area of eastern Afghan provinces of Nuristan and Kunar.
“Our extensive investigation reveals that the closest air strikes carried out were 43.1 kilometers to the east of villages which media quoted local officials as the scene of event,” the statement said.
ISAF therefore rejects these claims as baseless, it said.
ISAF always operates giving the highest importance to protecting civilians, and deeply regrets any instances where civilians are mistakenly injured or killed, it added.
It also noted that it should never be forgotten the insurgents use indiscriminate methods which inevitably lead to deaths of many innocent Afghans.
Nuristan deputy Governor Abdul Malim and police officer Ayatollah Khalil told media on Monday that 30 civilians had been killed by the NATO air strike in the villages of Katgal and Nishgram.
Afghanistan has witnessed a surge of violence and riot throughout the south to east over the past one month while militancy and conflicts have claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people including over 700 civilians so far this year in the war-torn country.